PARIS, July 17, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - French prosecutors have demanded Italian car maker Fiat face trial on fraud charges over the emissions-tampering scandal that struck German giant Volkswagen, a source told AFP on Wednesday.

It is the fourth trial demanded in France against major car makers after cases against Volkswagen and the French companies Peugeot-Citroen and Renault.

A source close to the case who asked not to be named told AFP on Wednesday that the Paris prosecutors' office made the demand on June 30 accusing Fiat of aggravated fraud.

The source said the Italian company is accused of selling Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep vehicles fitted with diesel engines that "frequently exceeded the regulatory threshold for nitrogen oxide emissions", highly dangerous to humans, between 2014 and 2017.

The scandal has caused waves in the global car industry since September 2015, when Volkswagen admitted tampering with millions of diesel vehicles to dupe pollution tests.

A German court in May convicted and handed prison sentences, some suspended, to four former Volkswagen managers over their part in scandal.

Filing their case against Volkswagen in February, French prosecutors said nearly one million French customers had to pay for servicing and repairs after the emissions breach was revealed.